People Magazine Investigates the tragic disappearance of LeeAnna Warner, who vanished as she was walking near her home in Chisholm, Minnesota, in 2003.
LeeAnna was just 5-years-old when her parents suffered the ultimate nightmare when their daughter failed to return home. She has never been found, and the police have assumed that she was probably abducted and likely murdered.
On the afternoon of June 14, 2003, LeeAnna asked her mom, Kaelin Warner, if she could visit her friend, who lived a block and a half away. According to Kaelin, her daughter had made this trip by herself on numerous occasions, without any problems. Unfortunately, this time she failed to come home again.
A frantic search uncovered a pair of her shoes lying in front of her friend’s home, but no sign of the little girl herself. Tragically, there had been nobody home at LeeAnna’s friend’s house when she arrived, so the police believe she began walking home again and was then snatched off the sidewalk.
Suspects in LeeAnna Warner case
The investigators came up with several suspects; one of whom, Matthew James Curtis from Chisholm, was arrested two months later on a charge of possessing child pornography and was subsequently interrogated over LeeAnna’s disappearance.
Curtis was found dead the following month, having suffocated himself with a plastic bag in an apparent suicide. It was the day before he was due to appear in court. His suicide fueled suspicions that he may have murdered LeeAnna; however, no evidence was ever found to connect him to the case.
Before LeeAnna vanished, her parents told the police of an occasion when she was given toys by “a little lady,” which led to a theory that she may have been lured away. But once again, nothing came of these investigations.
Watch the Latest on our YouTube ChannelNumerous members of the public have also come forward claiming to have seen various unfamiliar men and vehicles in the area prior to LeeAnna’s disappearance. The police were provided with some descriptions, but unfortunately, no solid leads came out of any of these mysterious sightings.
LeeAnna Warner’s family have not given up hope that they may still find out what happened to their little girl.
More from People Magazine Investigates
Follow the links to read about more crimes profiled on People Magazine Investigates.
Teenage girls Abby Williams and Libby German were brutally murdered in the secluded woods near their homes in Delphi, Indiana, in 2017. Despite Libby recording the voice and image of their suspected killer on her cellphone, the police have been unable to track down the murderer.
Soon-to-be married couple Jason Allen and Lindsay Cutshall were camping out on a secluded beach in Sonoma County in northern California when they were callously gunned down by Shaun Gallon in 2004. It took 13 years for the law to catch up to Gallon; in 2017, he was arrested for killing his brother, which led to him confessing to the earlier murder.
People Magazine Investigates airs at 10/9c on Investigation Discovery.
To find LeeAnne she is on The East Side of The Mississippi River. She’s on the southern coordinate of the county from St.Louis then to the west one county and down about two counties. This is her damaged spot and resting place to be found and brought home to those who remember her and need to find her remains. She’s in a very small minimum maintenance tunnel used in a critical spot to not only drain but to shift the flow and out pour of The Mississippi’s Power which is not high at this spot and there is your TIP to collect her remains. Another thing is for certain this part of the river is the 2nd in size for vacant lots so it is very very private. No camping ground, no houses for at least a couple dozen of miles. Your building to compare to make this a discover-able fact is the corner of the upper left is a milestone. It’s not a very known building but at least there is one there.
Right – how can you be sure? Another crackpot. /s
I looked up this case after seeing it on ID channel. Just saw LeeAnna’s mom, Kaelin, died in Dec. 2022.
Sad all the way around.